3 governments free up cash for public transit and water projects

Alberta and the federal government have reached a deal to free up $1 billion in cash for public transit and waste water projects,and Calgary will receive a large share of the funding.

Three transit infrastructure projects can now get underway in Calgary:an $85 million expansion of the Southeast Bus Rapid Transitway, funding for LRT vehicles, and the refurbishment of several transit stations.

Ottawa will provide $543 million in funding with the provincial government and municipalities picking up the rest.

The funding is part of the first phase of the federal government’s $120 billion dollar plan to support public infrastructure in Canada over the next 10 years.

Phase 1 provides more than $11.9 billion in investments to support public transit systems, green infrastructure projects, and social infrastructure projects.

66 projects in Alberta received funding in this phase.

For Calgary, the federal portion of this funding works out to just over $68 million. The province and municipalities must match that amount.